I’ve just submitted my Application for The Apprentice 2012. I’m probably too old, but I’ll let you know. If you want to Apply, the closing date is July 3rd 2011.
Posts Tagged ‘BBC’
The Apprentice 2012
Thursday, June 30th, 2011How to beat the UK TV License and save £145.50 a year!
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010I’ve just received my new UK TV License for another 12 months, at a cost of £145.50 a year. I think everybody knows in the UK, if you use a service like BBC iPlayer to watch pre-recorded shows, what the TV License calls “on-demand”, a UK TV License is not required. What I didn’t know, and I’ve been told this by UK TV Licensing is if you purchase any computer or high tech mobile phone or games console your details (name and address) will also be sent to UK TV Licensing, I only thought it was TV receiving equipment, but on reading my new TV License it states “You’re now covered to do more than just watch TV at home on a TV set. You can also watch and record television programmes as they’re being shown on TV through your computer, games consoles, and digital box, DVD/VHS recorder, even your mobile phone”.
So therefore TV Licensing assumes that every household in the UK should have a TV License.
I’ve made some enquiries about the defintion of “on-demand” which doesn’t require a TV License, it doesn’t require a TV License because it’s pre-preorded content. The content was also not received by you, as you didn’t record it. In the same way, Homeowner A records a program for you as it’s broadcast, they are covered by their TV License to receive this program, they give the program to you on a USB stick, Homeower B doesn’t require a TV license to watch the program.
If you examine the above further, and watch a program, which is recorded elsewhere, not at your home, and transmitted/played-back 50 seconds later – no TV License is required.
I’ve just come off the telephone discussing this with Amie, TV Licensing on 0300 790 6055. The telephone conversation was recorded, she also stated that the Field Agents are also aware of this information.
So how do you save £145.50 a year,
- Firstly you must stop using your TV equipment, e.g. TV and Set-Top-Boxes that receive television through a UHF aerial (e.g. live broadcasts)
- Remove the TV aerial from the TV equipment.
- You do not have to remove the TV equipment from the premises (I’ve also discussed this with TV Licensing – they have to prove you are using it, and I was told, they would take your word that you are not using it!).
- Use BBC iPlayer, Sky Player, ITV Player, 4od, Demand Five to watch pre-recorded “on-demand” content from the Internet, either via computer, laptop or Internet connected TVs.
- Live Content use – TVCatchup – http://www.tvcatchup.com/ from your computer, laptop, iPhone or iPad.
You can turn your iPad into a TV with TVCatchup iPad Service.
Willies Delectable Cacao – very good!
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009The final challenge on this weeks BBC’s The Apprentice, to be screened on Sunday 9pm BBC One, is to launch a new box of chocolates. Which has prompted me to rescue a draft post, I produced a few weeks ago, but never got around to publish it. Handmade by Willie Harcourt-Cooze from his factory in Devon, this new dark “chocolate” cacao, is dark chocolate without the bitter or sweet taste. Its called Willies Delectable Cacao.If you like proper chocolate (and I don’t mean Mars bars, KitKats or Snickers!) e.g. Lindt, Green and Blacks – you’ll love this, it’s very good. It’s 80g, and you get two bars, individually wrapped in gold foil, I would show you what it looks like, but I’ve eaten it already! But this is the packaging to look for in the Supermarkets.
Its’ now readily available from Waitrose. Now where is Willerby?
(thanks to Sally & Paul for supplying me with a sample! – cannot wait for more!!!)
BBC – Dig In – Grow your own grub with Dig In
Monday, May 18th, 2009- Lettuce, Carrot, Tomato and Squash Seeds from BBC digin
- Beetroot Seeds from BBC digin
Have you got your seeds yet?
I think it might be too late to apply online,
R.I.P – BBC iPlayer Download Manager
Sunday, April 26th, 2009I’ve seen the BBC have replaced BBC iPlayer Download Manager with BBC iPlayer Desktop which uses Adobe AIR and Flex technologies which will make use of Flash Media Rights Management Server (FMRMS) to DRM-protect content which is downloaded to the user’s desktop. I wonder if they’ve changed this because they were fed-up of people stripping out the DRM with Windows tools. I suppose Mac and Linux users will now be happy, that BBC iPlayer content is available to them, and folks that never liked the peer-to-peer Kontiki software can be removed – I think Sky and Channel 4 4oD service still need this technology.
The BBC still allow you to download Windows Media Player content at present, with DRM! (direct download from website only – not peer to peer)